This week we sat down with Sophie Allen, Business Development Manager at Venatrix - SaaS Tech Sales Specialists. Over the past three years, Sophie has become an integral member of both Venatrix and the wider Recruitment Entrepreneur hub. She chatted with us about her secret to success, how to make a good first impression and what gets her out of bed in the morning:
What have been the biggest milestones in your career so far?
2018 was a big year for me. I beat my previous billing record, was promoted to Business Development Director and I was the top biller across the whole of the Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio for the second year running! It was a really big year for Venatrix in terms of making our mark as the number one go-to recruitment company for SaaS sales people in London!
What do you think the definition of success is?
I would define success as having clear goals and achieving them; drive is definitely an important and admirable quality. What those goals are can be different for different people.
What was your first job?
I was a waitress in a greasy spoon café when I was 14 – pretty sure they were breaking some child labour laws. My poor dad had to get up at 6am every Sunday to drive me there.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Making money. And my alarm to go to the gym.
What is your favourite thing about recruiting in your sector?
Probably the exciting companies we get to work with. As they’re all tech start-ups selling disruptive technology, they’re full of really energetic, intelligent people and they offer our candidates life-changing opportunities.
What is the first thing you notice about someone?
Their smile. It sounds clichéd, but if people are confident and friendly then they immediately stand out, especially in our industry.
Why do you like working with graduates?
Through the clients we work with, we have access to some amazing opportunities. It’s really rewarding to open doors for graduates by giving them the expertise needed to impress the decision makers and land their dream job. We get to help people at the very beginning of their careers, which can change the course of their careers for the rest of their lives.
If you could live anywhere else in the world where would it be?
It would be great to set up a New York entity of Venatrix. It’s an untapped market for us and I love the city as well; it’s like London on steroids. My dream for when I retire is to open up a beach bar in the Philippines – I’m not ready to retire just yet though!
How did you get into recruitment?
Completely by chance – I went to a graduate assessment day and at the end of the day the company leading it approached me and asked if I had ever thought about working in recruitment. As soon as I started doing it, I loved it. I’ve never wanted to change careers.
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Venatrix's top billers celebrating at a lunch club[/caption]
How would you describe Venatrix’s culture in three words?
Fun, fearless and forward-thinking. The whole team is really close because we’re all quite similar in age and a lot of us have been here for a couple years now. I’ve worked with the CEO Elaine Tyler for six years. We have a very similar attitude and view of things; we intuitively know what the other is thinking, which is incredibly helpful in achieving our goals.
Do you have any secret talents?
I can do a really good Cheryl Cole impression. Please don’t make me do it now!
What’s your key piece of advice to those early on in their recruitment career?
Stick at it. It’s going to be really hard at the beginning but if you keep going, the rewards will be worth it. I think the skills that you learn in recruitment are unparalleled to any other industry because it is so dynamic and competitive.
What’s the secret to your success?
I think it’s all about my ‘make things happen’ attitude. You can’t let life and opportunities pass you by; you are in charge of getting the outcomes that you want. Recruitment is so fast-paced that you have to be able to roll with the punches, make things happen and celebrate success.
Do you have a signature dish?
I literally never cook. I can’t remember when I last used my oven but it was probably for a frozen pizza.
What is your goal for 2019?
Be Recruitment Entrepreneur’s top biller for the third year in a row!
If you're a company in the SaaS sector and are looking for your next sales superstar, get in touch with Sophie today at sophie@venatrixuk.com
